Kiss and Tell
Part V: Dawson?

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2001

When they arrived at the graveyard, both Pacey and Joey were surprised to see Dawson Leery standing at her mother's grave.

"Dawson?" Upon hearing his name, Dawson looks up, startled to see the pair. "Oh, hey Jo. Hey Pace."

"Hey, the two replied simultaneously. Then Dawson came up to Joey and pulled her into a hug. Pacey tried not to grimace with jealousy, but he couldn't help it. He didn't think either of them noticed.

However, Dawson did.

"Hey, Pace, why don't you say we leave Joey here for a while?" Pacey didn't want to leave, but seeing the look that Dawson gave him -- you know, the "We need to talk" look -- something in him said, "Uh… yeah, sure D. Jo, we'll be back."

Joey gave Dawson a grateful look, oblivious to the fact that Dawson wasn't only doing that for her benefit. Joey knelt by her grave while Dawson and Pacey walked out of hearing distance. "So… Pace. How are things with you and Jo?"

Pacey had 'no idea' what he was talking about. "Huh? What do you mean?" he asked, looking somewhat panicked.

Inwardly Dawson laughed. "I mean, how's your friendship going? Is it okay?"

"Yeah! Sure! Why wouldn't it be?" Pacey replied, maybe just a tad bit too quickly. Has she told him something?

"Well…" Dawson was trying to fathom just how to say what he meant. "Is she… interested in anybody?"

Now Pace REALLY didn't have any idea what he was talking about. "Um… I don't know. If she is, she hasn't told me."

Pacey obviously wan't getting it.

Dawson decided to be ingenuous. "Pacey, are you hot for Joey?"

'#%@&! How the HELL does he know?' Outloud he said, "What made you think that, Dawson!?

Dawson threw an amused glance at Pacey, then turned to look at Joey, who was saying something softly to her mother's grave. "Come on, Pace. Are you telling me that you're spending all this time with that… perfect human being and you feel nothing?"

Pacey let out an uncomfortable laugh. 'I can't believe I'm having this conversation…' "Hey, you have a girlfriend, remember?" At that both the guys laughed. "I guess… I mean… I just…" Pacey wasn't sure what he was supposed to say. "Does that bother you?" He finally said.

Dawson had to think about this. Considering the fact that Joey was his best friend, and had only been that for a while now, he had to admit that it would make him kind of mad. It would almost be as if Pacey was "stealing" her away from him, even though he knew that wouldn't happen. It was something he couldn't help feeling. "I'm not gonna lie to you. It will make me kind of mad, but I won't attack you about it. If you love her and if she loves you then--"

"Whoa," Pacey interrupted. "Now, who said ANYTHING about love?" While he said that he let his eyes wander back to Joey, who was looking at them curiously. Both blushed furiously when they made eye contact and turned away. Dawson started laughing. "What?" Pacey demanded. He tried to play it off, but there was this light in his eye that gave it all away.

"You didn't have to say anything about love. It's there. I can't believe I didn't see it before." With that, Dawson walked away towards Joey, who was gazing at the ice cream shop across the street. Pacey stood still for a second, then collected himself and walked after Dawson. When he saw what Joey was staring at, he nearly busted in two. Pete's Ice Cream (okay, so I'm a little lacking in the creative side!) was across the street. When Joey looked at Pacey, their eyes caught, and immediately Joey's frown tuned into a small, sad, half-smile. Joey would never forget that ice cream shop…


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1997
"Pace?" Joey asked Pacey as they were walking down the road. School had just ended for their 8th grade year, and they had absolutely no plans for the summer ahead of them… except hang out, of course.

"Yeah, Jo?" Pacey couldn't believe that they had the whole summer ahead of them to just do nothing at all. They were going to have great fun.

"What do you think high school will be like?" Pacey groaned. This seemed to be Joey's favorite topic of conversation lately. Personally, he didn't care about high school. As long as the summer was here, he didn't want to give it a second thought.

"Gee, Jo, I don't know. About the same as when you asked me ten minutes ago?" Joey shot Pacey a Look, then said, "C'mon, Pace. Seriously, that's what you said ten minutes ago, and the ten minutes before that, so technically, it's YOUR fault I'm asking."

"Fine. I think it will be the same as 8th grade, only in a different building. And," Pacey added, just for effect. "Unfortunately, we won't be at the top anymore. We'll sink down to the low level of the Freshman class. It will be hell, Jo. Hazing. Being stuffed into lockers. Swirlies…" Pacey gave a fake shudder in order to make Joey think he was serious.

And Joey did. "Hazing?" She asked tentively. "You really think so?"

"Hell yeah!" Pacey exclaimed, looking at Joey. She looked so genuenly scared that Pacey almost told her he was being a dumb ass and pulled her into his arms.

ALMOST. "But, Jo, never fear," he continued, throwing his arm around her shoulder. Before Christmas, they had been around the same height, but Pacey had a sudden growth spurt, and now he towered above her. He loved it. He gave her a brotherly squeeze, then said, "I'm probably about as tall as some of the sophomores, and maybe even some juniors! There's no way I'll let them do anything to you." Man, did he love playing hero.

Joey stared up at him adoringly. "Really? Thanks Pace." They were approaching the graveyard, and Joey's mood suddenly turned sour. Sensing her mood change, Pacey quickly steered them to the closest place, Pete's Ice Cream, the ice cream shop across the street. The pushed through the door, hearing the kling kling! of the door bell thingy (you know, the things that make the noise when you go into the shop so they know that you're there?). With Pacey deciding on Peanut Butter Fudge Brownie Mint-- which Joey could not believe he was going to eat-- and Joey settling on Cookies and Cream, they sat down with their treats.

"Pacey?" Not again! "Jo, don't worry, high school will be FINE! I was just joshing you about all that crap. Swirlies don't really happen. Only on TV."

"No Pace, I just wanted to tell you something."

"Oh, okay, what?"

Joey took a deep breath. "Pace?… Never change, okay? You're perfect the way you are."

Pacey just stared at her in awe. 'Did Joey Potter just say that to me?' Gaining control over himself, he replied, "You too Jo. You too."


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2001
Two days after the graveyard at school

Joey, Pacey, Dawson, and his girlfriend Jen Lindley all gathered together at their usual table in the cafeteria. "Hey guys," Jen said to her friends, "did you hear about the knew sibs?"

Joey and Pacey both nodded in agreement. "Yeah, one of them is in my math class. His name is Jake, or something," Joey said. Dawson, of course, had no idea that they had new students, because, even though our friend Dawson may have caught the sparks between our dear friends, he still didn't have a clue!

"Hey, look. There's the guy and his sister over there," Pacey pointed out. The guy had dark hair and was incredibly hot (but not as hot as Pacey) and dressed extremely well for a guy... kind of like Dawson. The girl next to him, who they assumed was his sister, didn't share his dark hair, but she had blonde hair, and looked just a little bit over whelmed. The pair walked past the gang, and Dawson turned his head to get look at their backsides… and he wasn't concentrating on the girl's.

Joey caught this. "Dawson, were you just checking that guy out?" she asked Dawson, bewildard.

Dawson turned back around, seeing his friends staring at him. "What? NO! Of course not!" Dawson said, putting his arm around Jen as though to prove their insanity. "But, say... what do you say we go introduce ourselves?" Dawson stared at the three, hopeful.

Joey looked to Pacey, and both turned to Jen. Jen, glancing from Dawson to Pacey and Joey, finally said, "Sure, why not?"

The foursome made their way across the crowded room to the table where the guy and girl were sitting alone. Joey was the first to walk up to them, followed by Pacey, then Jen. Dawson hung back a little, suddenly shy…

"Hey, guys. Mind if we sit here?" Pacey asked, then sitting down, not waiting for a reply.

The blond girl stared blankly at him, then in an upbeat voice said, "Sure! Why not! Hi! I'm Andie! What's you're name!"

They stared at this excited girl a little strangely, then Joey said, "Hey, Andie, I'm Joey. This is Jen, Pacey, and," Joey pulled Dawson closer to the table. His eyes were fixed on the guy, and Joey noticed. " This is Dawson."

"Hey," the dark haired guy said. "I'm Jack, Andie's brother." Jack's eyes seemed as fixed on Dawson as Dawson's were on Jack. Once again, Joey's eyes darted to Pacey's, and then to Jen's. Jen, however, didn't return the glance. Her eyes were fixed on Dawson, looking very worried and confused.

'This is about to get interesting…'


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